Korean grammar patterns › Level 5
N에 불과하다
be nothing but N, merely N
Level 5 · TOPIK II · advanced
How to use it
Says that something is no more than N, playing down its size or importance. Often used with numbers and amounts. N에 지나지 않다 means the same.
Forming it
| 소문 | → 소문에 불과하다 |
| 시작 | → 시작에 불과해요 |
| 열 명 | → 열 명에 불과했어요 |
Examples
그건 근거 없는 소문에 불과해요.
That's nothing but a groundless rumor.
참가자는 열 명에 불과했어요.
There were only ten participants.
Compared with similar patterns
-(으)ㄹ 뿐이다 attaches to verbs/adjectives (N일 뿐이다 for nouns) and is more neutral; N에 불과하다 is more formal and stresses that it is small or unimportant.